APA and RIPA Honors Sen. Jack Reed

On Friday, April 19, 2013, the Rhode Island Psychological Association (RIPA) and APA presented awards to two outstanding individuals in Providence, R.I. Sen. Jack Reed, (D-R.I.) and Peter Erickson, PhD, were each presented with the Musiker-Merenda Award in recognition of their leadership in and contributions to psychology and mental health.

Sen. Reed has engaged the psychology community on a number of issues and demonstrated a depth of interest in and commitment to psychology and mental and behavioral health. He has advanced programs including the Graduate Psychology Education program and suicide prevention as part of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, and took a special interest in the college counseling centers program and health care reform as part of the Affordable Care Act. Peter Erickson has been a longstanding advocate for psychology within the state and on the national level as well.

Nearly 100 psychologists attended this special evening including: RIPA President Lisa Rocchio PhD; Brown University professor, Justin Nash, PhD; Brown University professor and RIPA board member, Wendy Plante, PhD; and RIPA Executive Director, Jack Hutson, who were all involved in the planning of this event from the very start and instrumental to its success. APA's Education Government Relations office partnered with RIPA in the planning and support of this event.